Category Nutrition

The human body can make most of the fats it needs through our diet, however, there are two fatty acids that are essential, meaning we must consume them through our diet because the body alone cannot synthesize them. These are Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

You may already know it is important to change your eating habits. To lose weight you will need to adjust what you eat and pay close attention to portion control. You will also want to eliminate sugary, fatty or greasy foods from your diet. But successful weight loss is not just about diet restrictions and eating less. In fact, when it comes to your diet, there are some foods that you should be eating more!

Although not ideal for everyone, when attempting to lose weight, a diet high in protein foods gives your body the amino acids necessary for peak functioning of numerous physiological processes. In addition, you won't be driven to snack constantly by recurring hunger pangs after eating a meal rich in protein, because protein helps you feel fuller longer.

Increasing portion sizes is a common and effective marketing technique used by restaurants, vending machines, and food manufacturers to make consumers think they are "getting their money's worth". Unfortunately, placing heaping platefuls of food in front of us or tripling the size of what many of us consider a single-serving. As portions increase, our perception of what is a reasonable amount of food to consume for a snack or as a meal becomes inaccurate and we end up eating much more food than we thought we were.

When most people think of dieting, they think of eating a never-ending stream of flavorless meals and unappealing snacks that are boring, bland and just plain unappetizing. That's a shame, because losing weight isn't about eating dull, boring food – it's about making healthy food choices, and that means eating lots of delicious foods that are as good for your palate as they are for your waistline.

Omega fats are polyunsaturated fats that have many benefits. Like many of the fats the body stores and burns for energy, these fats are biologically active and play vital roles in functions such as inflammation and blood clotting. Your weight loss goals can be hampered by an imbalance in omegas.

Confused by the low-fat versus low-carb diet debate? Didn’t know there was such a debate? If you fall into either of these camps don’t worry, you’re not alone. For many years the debate has raged whether people wishing to lose weight and improve their health should limit carbohydrates or limit fats in their diet.

As a practicing RDN, I find patients are constantly looking for new ideas to stay healthy with their food plan. Here are some healthy tips I discuss in my office visits that I practice in my own life: